City of Tampa, Hillsborough County looking to increase state-certified apprentice programs H.B. 53 would stop local gov't from approving mandate City of Tampa, Hillsborough County looking to increase state-certified apprentice programs and last updated 2021-02-18 07:39:07-05 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. â As we work to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County leaders are looking to get more people working in skilled trades by increasing the number of state-certified apprentice programs. This comes as welders and other skilled tradespeople are more in demand than ever here in Tampa Bay. It can be a very lucrative living, as one welder told us back in May.